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Ryan Jimmo (14-1) came into the main event of Friday night’s MFC 28: Supremacy on one of the hottest winning streaks in Mixed Martial Arts, and the native Canadian continued that ride by picking up his 14th consecutive win and claiming the Maximum Fighting Championship Light Heavyweight Title. Although it was a valiant effort from his counterpart Dwayne Lewis (13-7), a massive hematoma under the left eye of Lewis caused a doctor stoppage in the third round to award Jimmo with the previously vacant light heavyweight championship.

“I don’t know,” Jimmo joked when he was asked if the welt on Lewis was caused by strikes or an incidental headbutt. “I punched him a couple times, so I’m not sure. You know what? Dwayne is a tough, tough guy, and he caught me with some good shots. He’s just a warrior, a tough guy.”

Before this match even started, both fighters showed their displeasure with one another, standing nose-to-nose at the referee’s opening instructions. The first round of action was a bit of a feeling out process, but Jimmo was able to land some kicks to quickly create a large red bruise around the liver of Lewis. Much like that opening frame, the second stanza was fought entirely in the stand-up position, with Jimmo continuing to focus on his kicking game while Lewis looked to counter with his fists.

In the third round, Lewis attempted to time faints by Jimmo, and the duo eventually ended up in a standing clinch about a minute into the frame. Jimmo walked his opponent over to the ropes and then quickly scored the first takedown of the fight, rolling into top control and immediately working some solid ground-and-pound. Lewis then tried to roll, only to see Jimmo acquire back control, and a grapple for position ensued. It was at this time that the referee noticed the massively developing hematoma under the left eye of Lewis and called a halt for the doctors to take a look. Clearly unable to safely continue, the ringside physicians were forced to call for a stoppage of the bout at the 3:13 mark, awarding Jimmo with the MFC Light Heavyweight Championship.

“It feels super duper, very super duper,” Jimmo said of winning the title. “I’m going to keep it here in Edmonton for a long time, everyone. This doesn’t leave my hands for some time.”

The stoppage win was the first for Jimmo in his past five outings, and he said that exchanging strikes with Lewis was not necessarily the game plan coming into this fight.

“Dwayne is not a guy anyone in the world wants to stand and trade with,” he remarked. “He’s a heavy handed slugger, and I had to be elusive and pick him from the outside.”

After another successful show at River Cree Resort and Casino in Edmonton on Friday night, the MFC made an announcement this week that it will bring MMA to Ontario for the first time when the promotion returns for MFC 29: Conquer on April 8th at The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor.